Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon had to swallow some harsh medicine from the league for repeat violations of the drug program. Facing criticism, the league did the right thing by toughening punishments for domestic violence.
(John Kuntz)

"We didn't get it right," Goodell said of his two-game suspension handed Baltimore running back Ray Rice.

The league got killed publicly for looking tone-deaf in the Rice case, where video showed him dragging his unconscious fiancée off a hotel elevator. Goodell deserved the criticism.

The leniency also allowed offenders in the league's drug program (Josh Gordon) to seize on the discrepancy and change the discussion from their own actions to the league's hypocrisy.

As I've said, just because Ray Rice didn't get what he deserved was never a reason to go easier on Gordon, who received a 16-game suspension Wednesday.

The answer to Rice getting off easy was always to toughen the punishment for domestic violence, not decide mid-stream that repeat offenders in the drug program should be treated less harshly.

That's certainly something for the NFLPA to negotiate if it believes penalties for marijuana use are too severe.

What are the players willing to give up to get less harsh penalties for marijuana use? Everything is negotiable.

• In a passive-aggressive response to Gordon's 16-game suspension, Browns' GM Ray Farmer made it clear in a statement -- he still hasn't taken questions -- he was not happy with the length of the process. He also rued the organization's limitations in being able to support Gordon in a structured environment.

I'd have a lot more faith in the benefits of a structured environment if there were evidence it kept Gordon out of trouble before. He ran afoul of the policy under two different regimes in Berea.

Not saying everybody's the same, but keeping contact with a team guarantees nothing if a player doesn't want to own his mistakes and change his life.

• Josh Gordon won't be playing in Canada. Rules prohibit a player under contract in the NFL and under suspension from playing in the CFL.

So if the Browns really think it's in Gordon's best interest to be in a football environment for his own good, then they could release him to let him play up north. I'm sure after consulting with Carlos Boozer, he'd re-sign with the Browns.

No? Didn't think so.

• Not sure exactly why Peyton Manningbeing fined for taunting strikes me as Mister Rodgers being reprimanded by the homeowner's association for yelling at the neighborhood kids.

It just does.

• Manning apparently had enough of Houston safety D.J. Swearinger, who'd talked trash at joint practices, then took a shot at Wes Welker in last week's exhibition game. Welker is sidelined with a concussion.

After Manning beat Swearinger for a TD, he dropped an expletive on him. He was docked $8,200.

Manning's response: "I accept it. Money well spent."

It's such a great line, you just know Johnny JamBoogie wishes he'd come up with it.

• USC running back Anthony Brown quit the team and called head coach Steve Sarkisian a racist before deleting the words on his social media accounts.

Sarkisian's week began with cornerback Josh Shaw making up a story about how he sprained both ankles. Shaw said it happened when he jumped off a balcony to save his nephew from drowning.

He since admitted he lied. Sarkisian said the school is supporting the suspended player.

Next time you have a bad week, vent. But think of Steve Sarkisian as you do.

According to an "Outside the Lines" report, Jones argued on behalf of taking Manziel but was talked out of it. The Cowboys drafted Notre Dame tackle Zack Martin instead.

"If we had picked Manziel, he'd guarantee our relevance for 10 years," Jones said in May. "When we were on the clock, I said if we pick the other guy -- any other guy -- it would be a ticket to parity, more 8-8 seasons.

"The only way to break out is to gamble -- take a chance with that first pick, if you wanna dramatically improve your team. That's why I wanted Manziel but I was the only guy who wanted him. I listened to everybody ... And I'm ... not ... happy ... ."

Funny thing is, the Browns would've loved to get Martin.

A 8-8 season here isn't parity, it's reason to party.

• When Jones says he's proud of himself that the football people ultimately decided things on draft night, I think he most proud that at his age it took three guys to hold him down and keep him away from the phone instead of one.

• Dion Waters has been working out with Kevin Love in L.A and is happy to report they share the same appreciation.

For Waiters.

"He likes my game," Waiters told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "He thinks I'm underrated. One of the things about K-Love, he knows I pass the ball ... When I get the opportunity to get the ball, I've got to destroy my opponent. The rest of the floor is going to be so wide open that, once I get by him, the rest of it should be easy."

Cue up the Miami pep rally from 2010 when LeBron said Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and he would push each other so hard in practice the games would be "easy."

That was before they came within one Ray Allen jumper of losing three of four NBA Finals.

For all the silly talk of players only working hard in the final two minutes of games, nothing is really easy in the NBA.

Except keeping score without The Diff. That I'm pretty sure we can do.

• For all the talk of whether Manziel is built to last in the NFL, Sammy Watkins has departed two Bills' preseason games with bruised ribs, including Thursday night's game against the Detroit Lions.

Which doesn't mean Manziel won't get hurt the more he scrambles around. But I advocated taking Watkins at No. 4 so I thought I'd mention Watkins' injuries before 100 or so Spin readers did.

As if there were 100 Spin readers.

• The Browns won the coin toss Thursday night and elected to defer.

The only reason I can think for not taking the ball in an exhibition game, especially when you're offense has been struggling, is Kyle Shanahan hadn't yet condensed the first series of scripted plays from a novel to a short story.

• The St. Louis Rams criticized a ESPN report on the showering habits of Michael Sam. Head coach Jeff Fisher called "unethical" Josina Anderson's report pointing out that Sam waits to take a shower so as not to make his teammates uncomfortable.

The network apologized.

"ESPN regrets the manner in which we presented our report," read the statement. "Clearly yesterday we collectively failed to meet the standards we have set in reporting on LGBT-related topics in sports."

Not to mention falling short of standards in reporting issues of actual relevance.

• The Indians signed 38-year-old Russell Branyan to a minor league deal.

And, no, not only because Paul Sorrento did not return their calls.

Branyan last played in the majors in 2011 when he hit five home runs and had 14 RBI for Arizona and the Angels. He most recently played in Mexico where he hit 19 home runs and batted .296.

If you don't think signing him is reason to celebrate, fine. But I remind you his nickname is Russell "The Muscle" and, sorry, being able to write that is always a good thing.

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